Ballet's Dark Clown: Pierrot Lunaire Returns

Glen Tetley's distinctive ballet, Pierrot Lunaire, is set to captivate audiences again at Covent Garden after a two-decade absence. This season, principal dancer Marcelino Sambé and soloist Joshua Junker will alternate in the lead role of Pierrot, a character imbued with surprising emotional depth.

The ballet, originally choreographed by Tetley in 1962, is renowned for its fusion of modern and classical dance styles. It is set to Arnold Schoenberg's challenging atonal song cycle, adding an eerie and fantastical dimension to the performance. Dancers are exploring the piece's complexities, with Sambé noting its poignant portrayal of human traces within the archetypal clown.

Junker describes Pierrot Lunaire as a symbolic journey from innocence to adulthood, acknowledging the pain and suffering inherent in its narrative. Tetley himself, a pioneer in blending modern and classical dance, was the first to perform the role. The 40-minute ballet will be presented as a standalone piece, promising an intimate experience for the audience.

This revival offers a rare opportunity to witness a groundbreaking work that deliberately challenges viewers. Sambé highlights the ballet's confronting nature, predicting an experience that is uncomfortable, funny, poignant, and beautiful, leaving audiences with enduring questions.